This type of bass guitar is equipped with five strings, which allows for playing lower notes without needing to detune or drop tune. It has an active preamp/EQ powered by a battery, offering more tonal control compared to passive basses. The tuning of a 5-string bass is typically B, E, A, D, G, with the added B string expanding the tonal range to deeper notes. This makes it suitable for genres like metal, jazz, and funk.